Pittsburgh running back Ray Graham is coming off a 172-yard against Notre Dame.Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The first sign that Pittsburgh senior running back Ray Graham was well on the way to recovering from a devastating knee injury last season was when he shed his knee brace after just a few games.

Sharing the workload with freshman sensation Rushel Shell this season, Graham has gradually and quietly recaptured his game-breaking form as the season progressed.

Now, in the wake of a 172-yard, one-touchdown performance in a 29-26 triple-overtime loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 3, there’s no doubt Graham is indeed all the way back as the Panthers get set to face Rutgers Saturday.

“Earlier in the year, you could tell he was struggling a little bit,’’ Rutgers middle linebacker Steve Beauharnais said. ‘‘He had the knee brace on. But now, he has taken it off and it allows him to do the things he’s good at. I think he’s 100 percent and he’s definitely going to bring his best game against us.”

Graham, a senior from Elizabeth and the brother of Scarlet Knights linebacker Khaseem Greene, has rushed for 835 yards and eight touchdowns this season, averaging an impressive 4.8 yards per carry. He has started every game.

Graham and the Panthers (4-6, 1-4 in Big East) are all that is standing between the Knights (9-1, 5-0) and a share of their first Big East championship when the teams meet at Heinz Field.

“I’m not even thinking about playing against my brother for the last time in college” Greene said. “We smell what’s at stake here and what we can do with a victory. I’m hungry. This team is hungry.”

Despite their mediocre record, the Panthers are formidable. They’re one of the most enigmatic — and explosive — teams in the country.

Pittsburgh has lost to Youngstown State but defeated Virginia Tech. It took Notre Dame to three overtimes then lost to Connecticut. The Panthers have been on a season-long roller-coaster ride, losing two, winning two, losing two, winning two and then losing two.
“I don’t think they really know how good they are,’’ Beauharnais said.

Senior quarterback Tino Sunseri is the orchestrator of the Panthers’ high-powered offense, which is back to a pro-style attack after switching to a spread last season. He has thrown 16 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Pitt has gone five straight games without a turnover.

“He’s more comfortable right now,’’ cornerback Brandon Jones said. ‘‘He’s making great decisions with the ball. He’s putting the offense in great positions to make plays.”

The offense is rooted in its running game, fueled by a veteran offensive line and the exploits of Graham and the dynamic Shell, who has rushed for 466 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

“You can’t underestimate their offense when you have a guy like Sunseri as the leader,” Greene said. “Then they have Street, Ray, Rushel Shell, (WR Cameron) Saddler, (WR Mike) Shanahan. I can go down the line. They have a big offensive line. They have some players.”

Said Beauharnais: “I think we’re going to get their best offensive performance and hopefully they get our best defensive performance.”